Experimental Verification of Laser Radar Cross Section Model for Complex Targets with Gaussian Beam Irradiation

The reflection of a Gaussian laser beam from a flat Lambert disk is considered theoretically. It was found that the results of experimental measurements of the reflected beam power as a function of the disk radius at various distances from the photodetector to the target are in good agreement with the theoretical model. It was shown that when the radius of the laser beam is greater than the dimensions of the probed complex target this target can be replaced by an equivalent Lambert disk with the same laser radar cross section.